Eight-time Churchill Downs leading rider Tyler Gaffalione has never ridden in the $1 million Arlington Million (Grade 1), but hopes his debut in the storied race aboard Godolphin's Santin brings him to the winner's circle.
“Santin simply has a lot of talent,” Gaffalione said from his summer base at Saratoga Race Course. “He's been working well up here and we're looking for a big performance out of him. Going over the pace in the race, it looks like there will be more speed up front which I think will be beneficial to him.”
On July 30, Santin breezed a solid five furlongs in 1:00.60 on the turf at Saratoga inside his classy stakes-winning stablemate Temple City Terror (five furlongs, 1:00.40). Gaffalione was aboard fellow Brendan Walsh-trained Temple City Terror for the move and rode her to a runner-up finish last weekend in the $250,000 Glens Falls (G2).
Two starts ago, Santin recorded his first Grade I score in the $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (GI). In his last start, the $750,000 Manhattan (G1), Santin was caught wide on the course and finished a disappointing sixth as the 7-2 second choice.
Santin arrived at Churchill Downs Aug. 4 and galloped about 1 5/8 miles Friday morning. The 4-year-old Distorted Humor colt was made the 3-1 second choice on oddsmaker Mike Battaglia's morning line.
Here is the complete field for Saturday's Arlington Million (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):
- Set Piece (GB) (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 4-1)
- Sacred Life (FR) (Manny Franco, Chad Brown, 9-2)
- Field Pass (Rey Gutierrez, Mike Maker, 8-1)
- Smooth Like Strait (John Velazquez, Michael McCarthy, 5-2)
- Megacity (Gerardo Corrales, Mike Maker, 15-1)
- Santin (Gaffalione, Walsh, 3-1)
- Admission Office (Brian Hernandez Jr., Brian Lynch, 10-1)
- Cavalry Charge (David Cohen, Dallas Stewart, 20-1)
- Cellist (Corey Lanerie, Rusty Arnold, 15-1)
Saturday's first post at Churchill Downs is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern) and the Arlington Million will go as the Race 11 finale at 6:25 p.m.
Fans can still purchase tickets for Arlington Million Day. For ticket options and more information, visit www.churchilldowns.com.
Wagering is available for the Arlington Million and every race from Churchill Downs on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Inc. and the Kentucky Derby.
The post Arlington Million: Additional Early Pace Should Be ‘Beneficial’ For Santin appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
